A Comical Crab

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Comical Crab

PEAR BOYS AND GIRLS,— * I WONDER if ,you have ever seen r crab eating. I hadn't until quite recently. It happened one day when we went fishing from this rock*. As we made our way out to the point we could hear the scuffle-ncuffle of many crabs hastening into safe cracks in the rocks. Sometimes when we stopped to look Into their homes we were met with big goggly eyes gleaming out at us from the darkest crevice, and sometimes when we approached too close a few towardly crabs would flee to another hole, their sharp claws tap-tapping on the hard surface. Soon we hnd our fishing lines set and were sitting down waiting for a bite. Silently creeping came one, two, three crabs, waddling over the pointy rocks end slippery seaweed toward us. One ventured on to my shoe, but beat a Jiaity retreat when I moved my foot. Then we saw a big fat red one sitting in a small pool surrounded by soft, tnos»y seaweed. She looked so comical that we went over to watch her. There «he »*' on R slone ' ungainly elbows stuck out and pinchers stuffing food into g wide, hungry mouth at a great rate. Really it was such a funny sight. Jhe old crab reminded me of a fat, greedy old woman in a comic picture, elbows on the table, shovelling her food in with first knife and then fork. Really, boys and girls, she was indeed a very rude old crab, but we were kept laughing there for many merry moments. In fact we had quite forgotten our fishing until we heard a splash in the water below. And when we jumped up, old Mrs. /Crab slid away to some safer dining room« • . However, if you ever come across this CjJ Ia » plump little person you might just tell her J I - Nyi what very bad manners it is to put her P*7 / elbows on the meal-table, and eat with I fcoth hands at once! I Sunny smiles to you all and love from